Category Archives for "Sheila Hellermann | Just Don’t Ask Me to Sing"

On Ash Wednesday we heard, “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” I have spent time this Lent reflecting on that, and searching for its meaning. If you presume that it means we that we are nothing but dirt and lowly, it can be depressing to consider. But that is not […]

Father Joe Korf began his homily for the first Sunday of Advent with those forceful words. Matthew’s gospel is bold, direct, and, for me, especially relevant. “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Father Korf continued, warning us that we never know when God will call us […]

Back in January, one of my fellow bloggers discussed the trend to find your word for the year – a directive, inspiring you for the year. Back then I had no ideas and, until now, had no word which stuck to me. For the last few days, however, I have one word embedded in my […]

On Friday night, I saw the movie, “Toy Story 4.”Not the ending I expected, but I will not give anything away. What struck me from the very beginning was the relationship between Forky and Woody. You see, Forky was made in school from items found disregarded in the trash – a spork, some pipe cleaners, […]

Working at a college, the end of year always brings different ceremonies and speeches. Speakers are telling young people to follow their passions and dream big. There are two people who I have heard quoted many times. First is Linda Ellis and her 1996 poem: “So when your eulogy is being read With your life’s […]

The Gospel reading on the Thursday of the Easter Octave has me thinking about Thomas. Admittedly I used to read about Thomas doubting the news of Jesus’ Resurrection and think…how could he doubt? After all he heard? After all he had been taught and told? Jesus knew, however, this issue was not solely an issue […]

Admittedly Lent is going very different than I planned. My resolutions are going OK, not great, but I keep trying. What has changed is how I spend time. Instead of thinking about spring and the coming grass and flowers, I have spent much time contemplating life and death. There are reasons. I am a hospice […]

Everyone seeks a place of refuge; a place they go to try to find peace. Other times we are looking for acceptance, or time to clear our heads when we are filled with hurt, or doubts, or we want to get away from “everything.” For some people it is a deer stand, others a wood-working […]

I struggle to find space. I am private and avoid situations where there are pictures and promotion. I crave anonymity and, because of how society seems to be now, invisibility. I have seen a few minutes of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” and I am horrified because I see us moving in that direction; craving […]

This summer I took up a new hobby.  I hesitate to call it a “hobby” because that is defined as “an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure.”  It is not pleasurable…at all. I decided to train and run a 5K. It was always something I wanted to do, but never had the […]